community warden Susan McIntyre and PCSO Suzie Carr exercise with help from fitness trainer Geoff Evans from Harpers

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Councillors, firemen, NHS workers, Olympians, schoolboys and entrepreneurs went along to the community conference at IQ Winnersh on Friday, March 11, to find out what they can do for the town.

The community conference is held every year by the Wokingham Borough Strategic Partnership (WBSP) with the aim of getting local groups together to share ideas about how to improve life in the borough.

And this year’s conference was more hands-on than ever, with a chance for those attending to climb aboard an environmentally-friendly electric car, stretch their arms on a rowing machine and sip some tasty juice from the Transition Wokingham community apple press.

There was also a selection of stalls popping up around the SEGRO building at IQ Winnersh with representatives from Wokingham Borough Council, local schools, Thames Valley Police and other organisations available to answer questions.

Young people were a key focus of this year’s conference, with pupils from The Forest School in Robin Hood Lane on hand to show visitors their recent work followed by an in-depth discussion with youth MP Amy Longland about how teenagers perceive crime.

Looking ahead to the 2012 Olympics, the conference was based around the theme of getting fit in all areas of life with talks from Michelin-starred chef Alan Murchison and Olympic rower Debbie Flood.

A packed audience filled the conference centre from 9am with an introduction by WBSP chairman Councillor Simon Weeks and talks from The Reverend Canon David Hodgson and director for children’s services Andy Couldrick.

There was also a question and answer session in the afternoon with an expert panel including the Wokingham police commander, Chief Inspector Christian Bunt, chairman of Wokingham Chamber of Commerce Mark Ashwell, and the youth MP.

One question which was put before the panel concerned youth safety, with members saying the perception of crime needs to be changed in Wokingham.

Amy, 16, from Lower Earley, was chosen to represent young people in the borough in February this year, and told the conference that young people find it difficult to distinguish between crimes they hear about around the country and those in their own area.

She said: “Young people watch the news and think that might happen to me. When you are a vulnerable 16-year-old girl and you go out with your friends you do not feel safe. I think we need to make sure there is communication between public services, the police and young people.”

Ch Insp Bunt said crime figures are low in the borough and officers are keen to continue working with young people.

He said: “One of the key points I would say is that crime is very low in Wokingham and the complaints from young people are quite low. It’s that big thing of what the actual crime levels are and what the perception is.

“Young people often talk about all the murders and sex offenders but the reality is that’s not the Wokingham borough.”

The panel was also asked how organisations were working to develop entrepreneurship among younger people.

Mr Ashwell said: “The Forest is a great example as they’ve had their laser art here today where you can design what you want and they will jigsaw it out of plastic. They’re making money out of that so it’s starting right there. You have got to concentrate on that cohort from school age to 19 and nurture them.”

Amy said: “We have become very defined by a very narrow view of what a school should be and what we should be doing is inspiring young people who have entrepreneurial skills to be able to work with them.”